PIAGET BLACK 14, LAS MONJITAS 10

by Alex Webbe

 Piaget Black scored a 14-10 win over Las Monjitas in the 2012 Butler Handicap at the International Polo Club in earlier action before the Piaget Gold Cup Final. Piaget Black received three goals by handicap and had a number of opportunities to add to it, but poor penalty shooting had them leading by only 4-1 after the opening chukker of play.  A goal from the field from 10-goaler Pablo Macdonough (substituting for the injured Eduardo Astrada) was countered by a single goal from Nic Roldan, with Piaget Black misfiring on a 40-yard and 60-yard penalty shots.

Roldan added a penalty goal to the Piaget Black total in the second period while Javier Astrada added three goals from the field as Las Monjitas seemed to have found themselves.  The Piaget Black lead was down to one goal, 5-4.

Roldan showed why he is considered one of America’s top players in the third, scoring three goals from the field and adding a penalty conversion for four Piaget Black goals.  Inaki Laprida answered with a single goal, as Las Monjitas fell four goals back, 9-5.

The fourth chukker was no nicer to Las Monjitas, limited to a single penalty goal from McDonald while watching Piaget Black pick up goals from Rodrigo Andrade and Negro Astrada for an 11-6 lead.

The two teams traded goals in the fifth, with Las Monjitas getting penalty goals from Macdonough and Javier Astrada.  Roldan scored both of the Piaget Black goals (one on a penalty shot).  With one chukker left to play, Piaget Black held a commanding 13-8 advantage.

Negro Astrada scored the opening goal of the final chukker to give Piaget Black a six goal, 14-8 lead.  Las Monjitas continued to fight, with Laprida adding tow final goals in the team’s 14-10 loss to Piaget Black.

Piaget black’s Roldan led all scoring with eight goals, and was named MVP for his efforts.  Negro Astrada scored twice and Rodrigo Andrade added a goal in the win, and the team received three goals by handicap.  As an added bonus, Roldan’s gray mare, Doña was honored as Best Playing Pony.

Javier Astrada scored four times for Las Monjitas.  Laprida and Macdonough added three goals apiece in the loss.